The Gauteng’s main source of water supply, the Vaal Dam has this week continued to decline and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) appeals to water users to step up efforts to conserve the depleting water resource.

Vaal Dam stood at 57.6% last year during the same week, the dam now stands at considerably low levels of 36.0%.

This indicates a significant drop from last week’s 37.0% Other dams that have seen a decline this week include the Grootdraai and the Bloemfoh.

The Grootdraai Dam fell from 78.0% last week to 77.7% this week. Despite this week’s decline, the present levels of the dam are in a heathier state compared to the 60.0% the dam recorded at the same time last year.

As opposed to the 95.3%, last week, the Bloemhof Dam is currently slightly lower at 94.4% but up from last year’s 93.2% at the same period last year. On the upsurge this week is the Sterkfontein Dam, which is a reserve dam in the Free State.

This dam increased a few notches from 93.9% last week to 94.0% this week. During the preceding year at the same week, the dam was equally stronger when it stood at 91.9%.

The decline in both the Katse and Mohale dams in the neighbouring Kingdom of Lesotho, has become a normal occurrence week-on-week. In a wretched state, the Mohale Dam continued to be a cause for concern as it floundered deeper into crises state. The dam fell from a poor 5.3% to a depressing 5.0%.

In the comparative period last year, the dam was in a similarly gloomy state at 33.0%. From a miserable 26.3% last week to 25.5% this week, the levels of the Katse Dam are continuing to head downwards. At the same time last year, it stood at a dismal 16.1%, widening the gap between last year’s and present levels.

The Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) persists to be in a stable position and to withstand the pressure put on it as a result of some critical dams in the system recording a decline in levels.

One of the key systems in the country, the IVRS consists of 14 dams that cut across several provinces and is vital for a number of major businesses that are the backbone of not only the country’s economy but the entire African Continent.

Despite its fall this week, the IVRS is still resilient at 59.1% following a drop from last week’s 59.7%. The system was firmer in the preceding year in the same week when it hovered at 65.0%

The Department of Water and Sanitation advises Gauteng water uses not to panic owing to deteriorating levels in the Vaal Dam but to continue to use water wisely and sparingly.

The Department further wishes to reiterate that given that the system (IVRS) remains fairly stable, the Vaal Dam will be supported by the system. However, this does not mean that water users should use water excessively as doing so could put strain on the system.